FALCONRY ON HORSEBACK

Powerful images of an ancestral practice, falconry on horseback in particular, bring together from time immemorial the relationships between the man and the Salukis dogs, the hawk and the horses - first and foremost with the purebred Arabian horse. They all depict situations full of burning passion for these three elements of such a dry region of the planet. Men have always been very impressed by the performance of raptors in the air and by the sharpness of their lines to the extent that many civilizations integrated them into their cultural heritage in all ways. Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, Founder of the United Arab Emirates, was the strongest supporter of this practice on horseback. It is widely acknowledged that, in the countries of the Middle East, hawks have long been used during the war by their fierce and valiant horsemen. As well utilized to hunt the evening primrose, the houtarde or the gazelle of the desert, these powerful birds would be trained to attack the enemy's eyes, mainly the knights from the Crusades in that historical period so full of conquests. A belief still supported by locals, it is then the use of a lure and chaperone. Since then, all these techniques have allowed for an increased use of the astonishing flying skills of the birds of prey. To the same extent of the purebred Arabian horse - in a time of strong values and high principles - noble and powerful family crests became popular and many gyrfalcons and peregrine falcons served as important relational means between tribes or neighboring countries or valuable gifts that honored their owners. The enthusiasm of passionate riders has always sprung from the natural world, from the discovery of large areas of freedom that provide unforgettable moments, and despite a long period of animal protection policy, concerning raptors in particular, there still is a growing interest in and pleasure for species that have been around us for centuries. Especially as regards falconry, the awareness joint-campaigns promoted by many associations from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Morocco, Mongolia, Qatar, Slovakia, Syria, have been rewarded in November 2010 with the recognition by UNESCO as 'World Intangible Heritage', an act of great importance motivated by the need to preserve such 'in-flight hunting art' that has been recognized as one of the oldest in the history of human civilization. To team up with these majestic sky hunters, the Arabian horse must be prepared. Ideally, on a first session, this can be initiated with a foal that will have to familiarize with the presence of a bird flying around him; the reactions from the colt will be instructive to envisage the most appropriate training program for him. Skilled falconers will take position at the horse feet-level, on both sides of the animal at standstill and with no bridles so to avoid any stress effect. With them, they will carry a medium size bird such like, for instance, the Harris hawk buzzard (Parabuteo unicinctus) with which they will perform the callbacks rite from glove to glove. When this practice is being strengthened, it can easily be repeated for about two months; the horse is then led with the halter, the glove is placed on his withers together with the bird while the fluttering of the feathers will no longer frighten him. There will follow a complementary training work with the ridden horse, and some part of the exercise being pretty much the same as the one practiced on foot: the flight of the bird of a falconer who places himself on foot to the horse and his chevalier who, in turn, will always receive the bird on his left glove. This is pure tradition of Falconry, mastery is therefore important in order to make it progress also by considering the viewing angle that will not scare the horse. This delicate exercise must be repeated at least for three weeks to test the docility of the horse. It is important to have a purebred Arabian full of energy, not to mention that he must work at ease for his necessary muscular gymnastics and his moral fiber. In line with this evolutionary principle to abide by, the size of the bird is to be assessed as weight can be different in the various species; the horse must be perfect when performing at the three stages because he is led by the only right hand and a connivance with the Arabian horse always releases a spirit of participation with very good memorizing of all phases of hunting in the air. When catching or capturing a prey, the falcon must remain on the spot and within the hunting territory; the expert falconer chooses his favorite bird and, often, in relation with the lower flight, he will certainly choose an Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) or a Golden Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), whereas in the higher flight, he can use either a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) or a Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) as well as the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and the Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus). Horseback falconry is little practice in France and has great difficulty in Europe, however, it is particularly popular in the Eastern countries. Many reports have been drafted about the Asian regions with particular reference to Mongolia where wolf and fox hunting are still practiced with the use of Golden Eagles. Yet, they also represent an opportunity for leisure activities at major local festivals. On the contrast, in today's Middle East countries where falconry is practiced in all comfort inside of all-terrain vehicles it is truly heartbreaking to note that - despite being an activity deeply rooted into the genes of local population - those same countries possessing the majority of the most beautiful Arabian horses of the world do not actually use them in what it could turn up to be an entertaining sport close to their culture and suitable to sandy grounds. In almost all countries of the Arabian Gulf area, however, many events or in-flight hunting competitions are organized every year, but, unfortunately, the participant horses are not enough or even absent from the program. In the huge region of Maghreb, a country with centuries-old traditions, in the Kingdom of Morocco, and more precisely in El Jadida, inhabitants still maintain the practice of falconry on horseback. Every year in August the great Moussem of this province gathers no less than a thousand riders, a well-known event in the world as its fervor and spectacle are simply great. However, horseback falconry, which is accessible to all adult riders, has its own codes and international and national authorities are in charge of securing compliance with a thousand-year-old tradition. Everyone must know that all birds have a registration; each must also be holder of a registration number within facilities specialized into the activity and respect the molting period of the birds ranging from mid-spring to the end of August. Good equipment suitable for falconry on horseback is also needed; first of all, in supporting the hawks, the 'koubbile' chaperon is a cache that shall always be placed gently on the head of the bird so that it can remain in a calm environment. It must be made of soft leather material to equip the head of the hawk gently, so you don't suffocate or damage its plumage. The rider will wear on his left arm the glove named 'saâba' made of very thick leather that covers large part of his forearm, thus avoiding too much contact with the extremely powerful and sharp talons of the raptor; during horse hunting this hand serves as a perch. The lure called 'jiaba' is a fake prey often made with ordinary birds wings that has a cavity in which a small amount of meat is put. This tool of the falconer rider is very useful during the sessions of falconry, especially to call back the hawk when it is in full flight. The falconer -rider will always make sure to maintain the confidence of his bird, paying attention to his equipment, his laces 'sbouks', his hunting bag 'mezoued' containing all the stuff the rider - falconer finds it useful. In Europe and in the World there exist 'Animal Parks' with more or less interest in what one could sometimes define as falconry areas for an understanding of this art, where competent professionals get themselves organized by creating spaces for presentations intended to value the full potential of birds within a certain educational function. Among these top-quality establishments in Europe, given the great diversity of the species presented, Master-falconer Mr. Bernard Bailly established at the Amnéville Zoo in Lorraine a beautiful demonstration space which is a perfect example of this activity that comes along with beautiful paintings on traditional falconry on horseback. Unfortunately, every year, mainly in Europe, several equestrian shows are put up with insufficient information thus creating inaccurate performances on the subject of falconry on horseback; many of them are more or less successful though they still manage to attract many curious. We must be proud of the very good combination of the Arabian horse with falconry. Passionate riders are more numerous in what it is a very great sport in its own right, as well an unlimited natural pleasure that remains more than ever an art. Rider - trainer - falconer Mr. Hassen Bouchakour who was trained by great masters of the discipline, offers presentations that are worthy of this tradition. Since ancient times, this immense art has been represented in important pictorial and sculptural works to which the greatest masters and world artists have devoted themselves also assisted by high-quality animal photographers.